John Dickinson Remembrance & Maria Paints at the Plantation

~~~ Penman of the Revolution~~~

~~~Remembrance Day~~~

John Dickinson, named "The Penman of the Revolution", resided at Poplar Hall (the future John Dickinson Plantation) as a young man.  Located in Kent County Delaware, near Dover and facing Jones Neck, it is now registered as an Historic Site.  The John Dickinson Remembrance Day was celebrated last week whereby a wreath-laying at the grave of John Dickinson was sponsored by the Quaker Hill Historic Preservation Foundation at the Wilmington Friends Meeting, Wilmington DE



This is a wonderful out-of-the-way venue for visitors as well as my group,
The Plein Air Painters of the Mid-Atlantic. 
We had great fun during many painting sessions inside and outside the Mansion.

Maria and several of the Plein Air Painters of the Mid-Atlantic

Below you will see a particular site and the same as painted by me:



"Herbs Hanging to Dry"
John Dickinson Plantation



Actual Photo of Herbs Drying
John Dickinson Plantation





"Keeping Room Hearth" - Painting by MlB

John Dickinson Plantation

 

Keeping Room Hearth -  Photo
John Dickinson Plantation

Wood Shed & Annex - photo
John Dickinson Plantation



"Wood Shed & Annex" painting by MLB
John Dickinson Plantation


 







John Dickinson Plantation Front - photo

"John Dickinson Plantation - Front"
painting by Maria Liberto Bessette

 

John Dickinson Exhibit, Dover Art League
February 2013
by Maria Liberto Bessette


I am thankful to all the staff of John Dickinson Plantation for their hospitality and friendship.

The plantation features Dickinson's original 1740 brick home, reconstructed farm buildings, and a log'd dwelling, surrounded by rich agricultural lands stretching down to the banks of the St. Jones River. The plantation is administered by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs.


visit John Dickinson Plantation website
Hours
Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Admission  Free
340 Kitts Hummock Road
Dover, DE 19901
302-739-3277 phone

Directions & Parking
Located on the northbound side of Delaware Route 9, one-half mile northeast of the intersection of Route 9 and U.S. Route 113. Ample, free parking is available.

"Like" John Dickinson Plantation - Facebook

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Visit Dover Art League

 

21 W Loockerman St.

Downtown Dover, DE

 

W-Sat, 11 am - 4 pm

 

click her for Liberto's Art website

 

"Like" Liberto's Art - Facebook

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 Enough history for now, I must move on to my next post and update you on my recent soapmaking products

 

Maria





  



Art Studio Housekeeping - Famiglia & Note Dal Passato, February 5, 2011

Art Studio Housekeeping:
Somedays artists work at their craft no matter the random projects in various stages scattered around their work area or studio.  Materials pulled out to remind you of the creative idea you had yesterday.  It is great to be able to start and stop without having to totally have to clear and put away.  I have the great benefit of having a very large space to produce many art forms which enables me to maintain my artistic culture.  I am basically an organized person and domestic goddess.  All rooms in our home lend themselves to basic order.  My French Husband is a really neat and organized guy.  He can find any tool or screw in his "little wood shop".


Every now and then when I try to locate a certain art supply or reference and have to move other items I decide - enough.  I will stop all projects, reorganize and clean. So then I start and realize there is no turning back.  Art books, paints (oil, acrylic, watercolor), sketch pads, watercolor paper, canvases.  Oh we have so many canvases ranging from new, incomplete paintings and canvases waiting to be framed.  And that is not counting the canvas fabric I use for floorcloths.  Frames - wow all sizes and shapes, even broken frames. Mat board, foam core, glass.  I have artist brushes, pencils, erasers, pastels, and related items in vases and artists reference books arranged on one of two drafting tables.  I also have my mother's art books and many art magazines.  Floor easels, folding easels and other reference books. 

 

I guess you get the picture.  But not all the picture.  There is also the soap making supplies, materials, labels and molds.  In addition there is all the house paint, gesso and stencils used to produce my lovely floorcloths. I am blessed with the availability of having a supply of many other art materials to produce stained glass, metalwork, jewelry, stamps for note cards and collage as well as children's art supplies.  I have files of references on many subjects to sketch and paint and..........................!

I did complete the task at hand by vacuming, scrubbing and organizing a portion of the art materials.  I does give you additional energy to step into an organized art arena.

Famiglia (Family):

I wish I had learned Italian as child or even later on before my father died.  My grandparents imigrated from Sicily around 1901.  My grandfather came first and pathed the way for my grandmother Dominica and their first born Leonarado.  They lived in the Italian section of NY City on or near Houston Street.  Several more children were born there.  In 1913 they had saved enough money to purchase a parcel of farmland from my Great Uncle, Salvatore Gelfo in Central Delaware.  Many other Italians lived in the vicinity, many from the area in Sicily.  More children were born including my father.  My grandfather became a United States Citizen and speaking Italian was discouraged.  Although my grandmother never really learned English or became a citizen. 


 
The birthplace of my grandparents.
Baucina Sicily as it looks today.
Baucina is in the Province of Palermo.






My father was brilliant even though he had little education and I learned much from him.  A passionate gardener who could graft fruit trees and grape vines, produce wine, grow fruits and vegetables, create great Sicilian dishes, a skilled carpenter who could build anything from furniture to homes. He could make most strangers laugh and had a heart of gold.  I did learn so  much just by following him, watching and asking questions.  As he learned this traditions the same way, by following, watching and asking questions.  

Note dal Passato (Notes from the past):

So when I found some notes of translated English to Italian terms on the bulletin board in my studio I had to stop and give thanks to my heritage.  Both my mother and father were very creative people each with their own special talents.  I am blessed to know they blood flows through my veins and I have some of their talents as well.

Tulta la vita Maria continues (the artful life of Maria continues)!!

L'amore e goodnight (love and goodnight).

Maria Liberto Bessette

A Day of Sunshine, Sept 15, 2010

The Bliss of Sunshine:  How to not stay indoors when the sun is shining and shining on the blessed outdoors with rays of sunlight filtering through the windows to my inside world.  It is a day when I find any excuse to be outdoors or at least see the outdoors while I attend to my tasks. 

Scones in the Morning: Up and  at em, rise and shine.  Create a somewhat healthy recipe of Mixed Berry & Pecan Scones.  I used a recipe from my huge collection and I substituted whole wheat flour for part of required flour, 2 percent milk and margarine for butter.  Here's the recipe: 

Berry Pecan Scones

Ingredients: 
1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup regular all purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder,
3 tablespoons sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup cranberries or any dried diced fruit,
1/3 cup 2 % buttermilk, 1/4 cup solid margarine, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla.


Preheat over to 375.  Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Cut in margarine with pastry blender. Add dried fruit and nuts.  In separate bowl, beat eggs with buttermilk & vanilla.  Reserve 1 tablespoon of liquid.  Add remaining to flour mixture until  dough sticks together.  Remove to floured board & knead 3-4 times. Form into 1" thick round.  Place on baking sheet & cut into 6 - 8  pie slices.  Brush with reserved egg and sprinkle with sugar (OPT.)  Separate and bake approx 20 minutes.

Maria's Berry Pecan Scones

flooded with sunlight, a delightful morning on the porch

Winston, The Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier:  Going on my daily walk, this time with Winston, starts the day off by soaking up the sun.  Shedding my jacket after a few blocks, I get geared up.  Winston off course has to stop at every post and pole we pass by.  I finally realized that if we walk on the side of the street with Winston  on my left as usual but also between the sidewalk and the curb he will not trip me with the leash by proceeding across the front of me to that pole/post.

Sir Winston Pumpernickel 

Isn't he adorable?

Ignoring my Art Studio:  I have really tried to think of my paintings in progress today.  One painting is a still life of fresh juicy peaches with cut open to expose the seed and yumminess.  The first group of peaches finally turned soft and so while still eatable I cut up and added to my vanilla yogurt.  So off to the market to find peaches with similar markings with cell phone in hand which held an image of my painting.  If only I had taken a photo of the still life set up.  Thankfully the were few shoppers at the time and hopefully no one wondered what the crazy lady with the cell phone by the peach display was up to.



"4 Peaches"

Peach Still Life in Progress

Needless to say I just couldn't leave the beautiful daylight to enter my spacious art studio that is housed in the basement level of our home.  The libertosart.com studio with it's artificial light cannot compete with the perfect end of summer day.  Tomorrow will be a new day of creativity.

# # # # # #

See you then.  My best to all.

Maria L B